After nearly a month of striking, Lockheed Martin employees in Orlando and Denver have approved a new union contract, signaling an end to their walkout and a return to their posts. The workers were represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and were rallying against what they claimed were federal labor law violations by their employer. Specifically, the allegations included failing to bargain a new union contract in good faith. According to ClickOrlando, the new contract secures significant wage increases for the employees.
The ratified agreement, as reported by ClickOrlando, will bring general wage increases totaling 19.3% over the contract’s term. Now, workers can expect to earn a starting wage that has been uplifted from $15 to $20 per hour. This marks a substantial change from the prior terms, where wage increases were once a modest 60 cents per hour. Moreover, the contract stipulates annual wage increases of at least $1 per hour for every year of service. "I'm proud of our members," said UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith in a statement. "They had the courage and the unity to stand up to a real corporation like Lockheed."
The strike began on May 1st, a significant date internationally recognized as Workers’ Day, and involved hundreds of Lockheed Martin employees. Over the month, support came not just from within the Lockheed Martin workforce, but also from various labor unions and politicians in Central Florida. A striking show of solidarity was observed as representatives from various labor unions and political figures, including State Rep. Anna Eskamani and U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost, joined the picketers. Art Franco, president of UAW Local 788 of Clermont, expressed gratitude for the support: "This is our fight and we have support," he shared in a social media post quoted by Orlando Weekly. "We are not alone."
The new contract not only increases pay but also includes enhancements to retirement benefits and parental leave, with a reduction of about 40 percent in the time necessary to reach the maximum pay rate. Perhaps most striking is the immediate rise in starting pay, which ranges from $20 to $26, depending on the employee’s position or "labor grade." This win for the workers is a moment of transformation, especially given the UAW's acknowledgment that Lockheed Martin, a company that they note made $24 billion in the last three years, has now agreed to share more of its profits.
